Hair treating method and apparatus



Oct. 25, 1960 A. WIDOFF ETAL HAIR TREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1957 INVENTOFB ERI POI-F K omens M jATTQRNEY HAIR TREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1957, Ser. No. 702,139

3 Claims. (C 132-7) The present invention relates to hair treating method and apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating preselected portions of the hair growing on a persons head without affecting the untreated portion thereof.

Bleaching and otherwise coloring the hair in order to achieve desired attractive effects is a well-known art in the beautician field. For certain attractive arrangements of the hair, it is often desired merely to bleach preselected portions of the hair rather than the entire head of hair. Such treatments are known as hair tipping, frosting, feathering, and the like, also to be used for high style color tipping.

In carrying out such treatments usually only the end portions of the hair on a persons head are treated so that these portions will have a different color from the untreated hair. The chemicals and other treating materials that are used to bleach and otherwise change the end portions of the hair are preferably powerful treating materials.

In order to carry out such special hair treatments, a trained beautician must carefully select the preselected portions of the hair and apply the treating chemicals thereto. He must be extremely careful not to permit the treating material to come in contact with the untreated portions of the hair in order not to destroy the desired attractive effect. It can be appreciated that such a procedure is extremely time consuming and it is not uncommon for a highly trained beautician to spend the better part of a day just for carrying out such treatment for one person. Even so, it is extremely difficult for the desired effect to be obtained since the color change cannot be produced close to the roots of the hair without contacting the adjacent hairs. This leads to a blurred effect which destroys the attractiveness of the hair treatment.

The present invention overcomes the difficulties of the conventional methods by providing a hair treating device and method which permits any preselected portions of the hair growing on a persons head to be treated without adversely affecting any of the remaining portion.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties present in the conventional methods of hair treatments.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method for treating solely preselected portions of the hair growing on a persons head.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for carrying out hair treatments of hair growing on a persons head in substantially shorter time periods than is presently possible with conventional methods and devices.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for treating preselected portions of the hair growing on a persons head and permitting such treatment to be carried out for precisely the proper time period.

121$ Sttes Patent With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists of a method of treating a preselected portion of the hair growing on a persons head without affecting the untreated portion thereof and including the steps of completely covering all of the hair on the persons head by means of a perforated cap, drawing a desired number of hairs through a preselected number of the perforations of the cap while the remaining hairs are still covered; and applying treating materials to the exposed hairs which have been drawn through the cap without contacting the remaining hairs or any portion of the head.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thus treated exposed hair is covered with a second non-perforated cap to retain the treated hair in a dead air space between the outer surface of the perforated cap and the inner surface of the non-perforated cap.

In another step of the present invention the hair retained in the above-defined dead air space is subjected to heat for a predetermined time period until the hair treatment is completed.

If desired, the hair retained in the dead air space may be observed to determine precisely the proper moment to end the effect of the hair treatment.

The present invention also includes a device for treat- The novel features which are considered as characteris-.

tie for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a cap shaped mem-v ber incorporating the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the cap of Figure 1 showing a step of the method of practicing the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing hairs drawn through the perforations of the cap of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view greatly magnified to show the relationship between the hair drawn through the cap and the perforations therein; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical view showing a step of the method incorporating the principles of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, it can be seen that the cap shaped member 10 is formed from three individual panel portions 11, 12 and 13. The adjacent panel portions are sewn to each other and the seams are preferably covered with binding material 14 and 16.

In the lower rear portion of the panel 12, an elastic member 17 is provided. Also, connected to the lower extremity of the panel 11 is a chin strap 18 while a chin strap 19 is fixedly connected to the lower extremity of the panel 13.

It can be seen that each of the panels 11, 12 and 13, is

of the wearer while the lower extremities of the panels 11 and 13 are respectively covering the right and left ear of the wearer. The chin straps 18 and 19 are then adapted to be bound beneath the chin of the wearer to retain the cap shaped member 10 in a substantially fixed position on the head of the wearer. Since the cap shaped member 10 is made from a flexible material impervious to liquid or other hair treating materials it is apparent that the hair arranged beneath the cap shaped member 10 will not be affected by any heat treating materials applied to the cap. That is, the elongated perforations 20 are cut with extremely sharp knife edges so that the edge portions of each perforation still remains in substantial contact with each other.

Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that a desired number of hairs can be drawn through any one of a preselected number of the perforations 20 of the cap by inserting the thin edge of a hair hook 21. The hair hook 211 is similar in shape to a crocheting needle so that the thinner end portion has a small angular member thereon. This angular member in the form of a hook may be used to draw the desired hairs up through the particular perforation 20 of the cap shaped member 10. Since the cap shaped member is preferably made of transparent material it is simple for the user to contact the desired hairs.

In Figure 3, a number of hairs 22 which have been drawn through respective perforations 20 are shown. It is clear that a desired number of hairs may be drawn through each perforation from a single hair to several. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, it is now apparent that the exposed hairs 22 may be treated with hair treating material without affecting the remaining hairs beneath the cap shaped member 10.

This is best seen in Figure 4 where a sectional view of the hair drawn through a single perforation is provided. It can be seen that the hairs 22 drawn up through the perforation 20 mates very closely with the elongated perforation 20. The side portions of the perforation 20 are drawn slightly upwardly as shown in exaggerated fashion in Figure 4 to provide a streamlined base portion for the hair 22.

It is apparent that any liquid or hair treating material applied to the hairs 22 will not work its way down through the perforation and make contact with the unexposed hair due to the streamline arrangement shown on Figure 4. Rather such hair treating material or liquid will remain on the outer surface of the cap shaped member 10 in contact only with the exposed hairs which it is desired to treat.

Referring now to Figure 5, the cap shaped member 10 is shown on the head of the wearer with all of the preselected portions of hair exposed. It is clear that each of the hairs shown in Figure has been drawn upwardly through its respective elongated perforation by means of the hair hook 21 of Figure 2. If desired, the operator may now apply a bleach paste or similar hair treating material to the thus exposed hairs 22. Due to the advantageous arrangement of the cap shaped member 10, only the exposed hairs will make contact with the hair treating material. The wearer may then wait until the bleaching action takes its desired effect. This is determined by the color of the exposed hair. When it has been sufficiently lightened, for example, the hair treating material may be rinsed ofi while the cap remains in the position shown in Figure 5. After such rinse, the cap may be removed and the entire head of hair given a normal shampoo. When completed, the person has only a preselected portion of the hair bleached, while all of the remaining hair retains the different shade.

If desired, however, this method of hair treating may be hastened in accordance with the present invention. As shown in Figure 5, a second non-perforated cap shaped member 30 is provided having chin straps 31 and 32. This cap shaped member is adapted to fit over the head of the wearer and over the cap shaped member already on the wearer. When this is done, the hair 22 which has already been treated, is arranged substantially in a dead air space between the outer surface of the cap 10 and the inner surface of the cap 30. This is provided by the close fitting elastic member 33 arranged around the inner periphery of the cap 30.

While the treated hair is thus retained in the dead air space between the cap shaped members 10 and 30, heat can be applied thereto for a period in the order of fifteen to twenty minutes to hasten the bleaching action. Since the cap shaped member 30 is preferably made of a transparent material it is possible for the operator to observe the change in color of the hair retained in the dead air space. Therefore, the exact moment when the heat should be removed can be precisely determined. When the hair has reached its desired lightness, the heat is removed as is the outer cap shaped member 36. The treated exposed hairs 22 is then rinsed to remove the hair treating material without the same coming in contact with the hair remaining beneath the cap shaped member 10. Again, when the cap shaped member 16 is removed, the hair may be shampooed and set to achieve the desired effect.

By practicing these methods and utilizing the devices shown in the drawings, it is possible for a semi-skilled beautician to achieve the most desirable hair treating effects in a very short time period in the order of one hour as compared to nine or ten hours for a trained beautician to practice conventional methods. It can be seen that the method and apparatus incorporating the present invention achieves substantial results in the hair treating art. Furthermore, much sharper and more desirable bleaching patterns can be obtained on the hair of the wearer by using the method and apparatus incorporating the principles of the present invention. This is achieved by the complete protection afforded the wearer while utilizing the device shown in the drawings.

The close fitting cap shown in Figures 1 and 5 is used primarily when the hair of the wearer is quite short. If the hair is very long, a cap similar to the cap shaped member 30 is provided which permits more hair to be disposed between the inner surface of the cap and the head of the wearer. If such a cap is used, it is necessary to use a still larger cap shaped member 30 to cover the head of the wearer on which has already been arranged the first cap 10. This cap 10 is also perforated.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of treating methods and arrangements differing from the types described above such application in high style coloring where selected separated hairs are doused with contrasting colors, either by spraying or painting.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method and apparatus for treating preselected portions of the hair growing on a persons head it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, said adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

.1. In a method of treating a preselected portion of the hair growing on a persons head without affecting the untreated portion, the steps of completely covering all of the hair on the persons head by means of a cap having perforations through substantially the entire surface thereof; drawing a desired number of hairs through the perforations of the cap while the remaining hairs are still covered; applying treating materials to the exposed hairs which have been drawn through the cap without contacting the remaining hairs or any portion of the head; and covering the exposed hair with a non-perforated cap to form a dead air space between said caps substantially larger than said exposed hair thereby retaining said exposed hair in said dead air space between the outer surface of the perforated cap and the inner surface of the non-perforated cap.

2. In a method of tipping hair growing on a persons head without affecting the untreated portion, the steps of, completely covering all of the hair on the persons head by means of a transparent cap having perforations through substantially the entire surface thereof; drawing a desired number of hairs through the perforations of the cap while the remaining hairs are still covered; applying bleach paste to the exposed hairs which have been drawn through the perforations of the cap without contacting any of the remaining hairs or any portion of the head with the bleach paste; covering the exposed hair to which the bleach paste had been applied with a non-perforated cap to form a dead air space between said caps substantially larger than said exposed hair thereby retaining the exposed hair in said dead air space between the outer surface of the perforated cap and the inner surface of the non-perforated cap; and applying heat to the thus retained hair for a predetermined time.

3. In a method of treating a preselected portion of the hair growing on a persons head without affecting the untreated portion, the steps of completely covering all of the hair on the persons head by means of a cap having perforations through substantially the entire surface thereof; drawing a desired number of hairs through the perforations of the cap while the remaining hairs are still covered; applying treating materials to the exposed hairs which have been drawn through the cap without contacting the remaining hairs or any portion of the head; covering the exposed hair with a non-perforated cap to form a dead air space between said caps substantially larger than said exposed hair thereby retaining the exposed hair in said dead air space between the outer surface of the perforated cap and the inner surface of the non-perforated cap; and subjecting the thus covered hair to heat for a predetermined time.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,020,912 Kerr Mar. 19, 1912 2,477,489 Loy July 26, 1949 2,818,074 Mach Dec. 31, 1957 2,857,917 Cortez Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,232 Great Britain Sept. 18, 1936 

